1.15 Chapter 39~

I could barely put one step in front of the other. We had been walking for hours and still couldn't seem to find a way out of this forest. For about half an hour now Takeo and Nikolai seemed to be arguing, for what, I had no idea. I could hear them almost yelling at each other behind me.

''Why don't you mind your own business?!'' I heard Nikolai snarl.

''I have the right to know, in case you might back-stab me!'' Takeo snapped back.

I stopped and spun to face them.

''When are you two going to grow up?! What are you even fighting about anyways?!'' I said, trying to contain my patients.

Takeo pointed to Nikolai, ''I don't trust the Russian!''

Nikolai glared at him, ''And you think I trust a dumb as—''

I interrupted Nikolai quickly, ''Hey! Cut it out! Both of you, your fighting isn't helping..''

Takeo glared at Nikolai and then looked down. Nikolai stomped his foot and crossed his arms like a child.

I rolled my eyes and turned to Jason. He had been silent ever since we had left that place. Either he was thinking about what he had tried to do back there, or was planning another attempt. I didn't understand why he seemed to hate Takeo so much. I didn't see anything that Takeo had done that was against him. Jason had stopped, his head hung low. Just looking at him gave me the chills.

''Are we going to get moving, or just sit here and die?'' Nikolai grumbled.

''No one's going to die! Now will you shut up or do I have to tap your mouth shut?'' Takeo snarled.

Nikolai was about to open his mouth and respond but I beat him to it, ''What do you mean no one's going to die? We already lost one..'' I said, looking down. I really did miss Dempsey.

Takeo looked at me with a hurt expression, ''I'm sorry Elena, I didn't mean to bring that up..''

I glared at him, ''Well maybe if you two would stop FIGHTING!'' I yelled and without hesitation ran into the trees, not looking back.

I heard Takeo calling my name from behind but I ignored it. I wasn't in the mood to be talking to him right now, or to anyone. I just wanted to be alone. I slowed into a jog and looked behind me to check if anyone was following. I couldn't hear any footsteps so I guessed no one had bothered to come after me. And they were smart for doing that.

I walked a few ways and then sat down in a patch of grass. I looked down and started picking blades of grass from the soft soil. My hands started shaking slightly and I just now realized how hungry I was. I flinched as my stomach sent a sharp warning pain through my body. I knew for a fact that if I didn't find food fast, I could easily die of hunger.

I was about to get up and go back to the others when I heard a low growl. I stiffened and stayed completely still. I heard the growl again, but much closer. I slowly turned around and found myself face to face with a hellhound. My heart started beating faster as I tried not to panic. I stared into its evil eyes. I had no idea why my eyes weren't going red and controlling the dog standing right in front of me. I slowly stood up and the dog snarled. Suddenly I heard a scream to my right and looked over. I spotted Nikolai running through the trees, a pack of hellhounds behind him.

''Oh god…'' I whispered in terror.

''Elena RUN!'' I looked straight ahead and saw Takeo bolting towards me, hellhound nipping at his heels.

I gasped, spinning around and running straight ahead. Soon enough Takeo caught up to me and we were side by side. I could feel the dogs biting at my feet but continued to run. At the corner of my eye I could see Nikolai and Jason running, dodging trees, with dogs at their heels. I wondered where all these dogs had come from. I shook the thought out of my head instantly, we needed to figure out somewhere the dogs couldn't get us. I looked around and looked at the trees.

''The trees!'' I yelled, ''Climb one of the trees!''

I saw Takeo nod as I veered for the nearest tree. I ran up to it and jumped, grabbing one of the lower branches. Three dogs ran up to me baring their teeth and yapping sharply while jumping and trying to snatch me. I lifted my feet up and swung to a more a higher branch. The dogs yapped in frustration and started circling the base of the tree. I ignored them and looked around to see if the others had made it safely in a tree. I could see Takeo swing onto a higher branch in a tree right next to me, making dogs go crazy at the base of the tree. I looked around more and Nikolai and Jason already in trees, just a few feet away from me and Takeo.

''Everyone ok?'' Jason called, looking at us one by one.

Takeo nodded, gasping for breath. I nodded as well, knowing that trying to yell over the dogs sharp yaps would be almost impossible.

I could see Nikolai glaring down at the dogs and knew he was fine.

''How long do you think they'll be here?'' I heard Takeo yell.

I looked down at the constant yapping dogs.

''I'm not sure, they don't seem to be getting tired'' I yelled back. I had a feeling we were going to be in these trees for a while yet.

Suddenly I heard a loud snap. I stiffened and looked at the branch I was on. Sure enough, it was cracking.

''I didn't think i was fat at all!'' I said to myself with a worried tone.

Takeo looked at me, ''You say something?''

I gave him a nervous look and pointed to the branch as it cracked more, ''Obviously, the branch can't take my weight..''

Takeo widened his eyes slightly and looked at the snarling dogs below me, ''You need to get you off that branch!''

I gave him a face, ''You think?!''

Takeo ignored me and looked at the other branches in my tree, ''See if you can climb up on another branch above you''

I nodded and looked up, searching for a branch close enough that I could grab. The branch beneath my feet cracked again making me search faster. But all the other branches were too high up for me to reach.

''Sometimes, I hate being to short to reach things'' I groaned to myself and turned to Takeo, ''I can't reach any o—''

The branch cracked loudly, interrupting me. I pressed against the trunk of the tree and stiffened.

Takeo started looking around my tree franticly while also trying to balance on his, ''Elena hang on, whatever you do, do not fall''

''Heh, I'll try my best'' I said as the branch cracked again. I could see a deep hole in the branch, one more crack and it would be hanging by a thread.

Takeo looked up and spotted a branch on my tree close enough that he could jump to it, ''Just hang on!'' he yelled.

I looked at him and followed his gaze, ''No Takeo stop! You'll never make the jump!''

Takeo stared at the branch, ''I'll make sure I will''

I was about to argue with him again but the branch snapped loudly, making most of the branch fall, and sure enough it was hanging by a thread. The dogs below me snarled and yapped louder, waiting for their prey.

Takeo looked at the dogs and then back at the branch he was aiming for, ''I can do this…'' he said to himself and jumped.

I watched him and was almost certain he was going to miss, but to my surprise he grabbed the branch above me firmly. I sighed with relief as he crouched on the branch.

Takeo held out his hand down to me, ''Elena grab my hand!''

I looked up and grabbed his hand just as the branch beneath my feet gave way. I was left dangling with only Takeo to hold on to. The dogs dodged the falling branch and started snarling in anger, jumping up and barely missing my feet with their jaws.

''Pull me up!'' I screamed.

Takeo groaned and pulled me up with one arm. I sat next to him on the branch he was on and sighed with relief again.

Takeo looked down at the dogs and then at me, ''You ok? Did they bite you?''

I shook my head, ''No I'm fine''

Takeo nodded and leaned his head against the trunk of the tree, ''Good''

''Thanks for th—'' I was about o thank Takeo but my foot slipped and I started sliding off the branch.

Takeo quickly put his arm around my waist and pulled me away from the edge, ''Whoa there…don't fall!'' he said laughing slightly.

I blushed at the way he was holding me. It was slightly awkward for his arm to be around me like this, and for me being so close to him. But I guess I had no choice, if he wasn't holding me like this I would have already slipped and fell.

''T-thanks..'' I stuttered, unsure of what to say.

Takeo smiled at me and nodded, ''No problem''

I looked away, still blushing. This felt weird, but I didn't want to leave. I wanted to sleep. I leaned my head against the trunk of the tree and closed my eyes, thinking. My mind whirled again, mostly of flashbacks. Then I got the flashback kissing me and it led me to where I was now. Sitting close to Takeo on this branch, with him holding me. Then I started to think, did he like me more than a friend?...